Construction crews remove rubble during the Interstate 70 Twin Tunnels widening project on May 3, 2013. Major construction on the project is complete, and both tunnels are open again. (Joe Amon, Denver Post file)

How about a high five to the Colorado Department of Transportation for a job well done on completing the eastbound and westbound Twin Tunnels project on time? We, like many, use this passage twice weekly, and the expansion of the tunnels will significantly improve our ability to reach our destination. Job well done, CDOT! Thank you.

Jay Weinstein, Dillon

This letter was published in the Dec. 18 edition.

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Thousands of us are returning from our Colorado mountain joy, only to become victims of the ugly Interstate 70 traffic jams and construction. I begin daydreaming of a Colorado that could have been, blessed that the president of a conservative think tank who led the 2001 defeat of Colorado’s “ Denver-to-Vail monorail” was actually born and raised in Texas, and the monorail became reality.

I daydreamed of our family heading back home from the mountains in the monorail, shared with that Texan. He relates how our monorail is an enjoyable escape from the automobile. I-70 lies below with cars moving freely — offloaded by the monorail passengers’ cars parked at home. Ah … and the air is so much fresher, the skies so much clearer.

So sad. If that conservative think tank president had been a life-long Texan, the quality of life in Colorado would have been so much better.

Dave Potak, Littleton

This letter was published in the Dec. 3 edition.

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After more than 10 years of engagement with thousands of neighbors, stakeholders and studies of numerous alternatives, Mayor Michael Hancock and a majority of Denver City Council believe the Colorado Department of Transportation’s innovative approach to fixing Interstate 70’s outdated infrastructure is the right one. Along with regional partners, that support has been expressed since shortly after the plans were announced in 2013.

The city has worked closely with the residents through the neighbor planning process to identify solutions for I-70 along with other neighborhood priorities. We are committed to staying thoughtfully engaged to ensure that this project supports the Elyria, Swansea and Globeville neighborhoods.

The city is investing $47 million in the area to ensure a good quality of life, health and safety for the impacted neighborhoods, commuters and Denver as a whole.

We will continue to have honest conversations about what success looks like in this cornerstone of our city and how we get there together.

Kelly Leid, Denver

The writer is executive director of the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborate, a division of the mayor’s office.

This letter was published in the Nov. 23 edition.

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I-70 passes over York Street in the Swansea neighborhood in April 2013. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)

Elyria, Swansea and Globeville are not the only north Denver neighborhoods impacted environmentally by Interstate 70 past, present and future. Inspiration Point Neighborhood is pinched between I-70 and I-76. Rerouting I-70 traffic onto I-76 closes the straightest, most direct and shortest route for many northwest Denver commuters to downtown, Denver International Airport and mountain destinations. Better fencing, landscaping and resurfacing of I-70 can reduce the noise and visual impact. Quieter cars, buses and trucks using cleaner energy can reduce the impact on our health. Keep Clear Creek Valley free from further highway expansion and increased traffic in a wildlife migratory route and flyway.

Robert J. Lorenz, Denver

This letter was published in the Sept. 21 edition.

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J. Sebastian Sinisi is a consistent fan of my downtown Denver walking tours during Doors Open Denver. (I believe he holds the attendance championship, having been with me on at least three occasions.)

His story was both a balanced report on the status of the public perception of Denver architects, as well as a really good plug for Doors Open Denver.

The Denver Architectural Foundation, by making Doors Open Denver a free, annual event for 10 years, continues to raise public awareness of the value of good architectural design and of Denver architects.

The story does err in one respect: I have been an opponent of urban freeways since 1965. Consistent with what cities around the world are doing, I believe Interstate 70 East should be replaced with an at-grade urban parkway that will be a fitting gateway to our beloved Denver.

Alan Golin Gass, Denver

The writer is principal in the firm of AGGA Architecture & Urban Design.

This letter was published in the June 15 edition.

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Working regionally has been critical to solving complex infrastructure projects in the Denver metro area. Rebuilding Interstate 70 is no different. Over the last decade, Commerce City has worked collaboratively with Denver, Adams County, Aurora and the Colorado Department of Transportation to correct past mistakes, improve mobility and restore local connectivity.

We understand the community’s concerns regarding connectivity, which is why we support the lowered I-70 design that provides unique opportunities to enhance the neighborhood. Vasquez Boulevard is only one of three north/south routes that serve our entire 50,000 community. Having direct access for residents and businesses to major east/west routes such as I-70 is critical to building our community, fostering economic development and maintaining the delicate urban fabric of the north metro region.

We appreciate the Denver City Council and Mayor Michael Hancock’s willingness to seek solutions at the interchange that benefit both cities, given these somewhat contradictory interests. Commerce City is similarly committed to finding win-win solutions.

We believe the I-70 environmental impact statement represents a regional opportunity to build a state-of-the-art facility that enhances local neighborhoods, generates economic investment and creates connections irrespective of municipal boundaries.

Mayor Sean Ford, Commerce City

This letter was published in the April 13 edition.

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It was nice to see The Denver Post acknowledge the benefits of bus rapid transit (BRT) in a recent editorial. As referenced in the editorial, BRT is oftentimes faster than rail. And it goes without saying it is much more flexible and less expensive.

So why hasn’t BRT been recognized as the most viable solution for the Interstate 70 mountain corridor?

Consider this: BRT is the only option which could provide almost immediate benefits. BRT is the only transit option which can be built incrementally as money becomes available and/or need becomes apparent. And BRT is the only capacity-adding alternative which won’t require an expensive new bore through the continental divide or huge infrastructure improvements in our already tight-spaced mountain resorts.

It’s obvious to many people a BRT system is the only sensible solution for the I-70 mountain corridor. We can only hope that it soon becomes obvious to the brain-trust at the Colorado Department of Transportation as well.

Kenneth Katt, Littleton

This letter was published in the Feb. 22 edition.

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Colorado League of Women Voters president Bobbie Hestercamp’s call for a proper Supplemental Environmental Impact Study for the Interstate 70 North Denver project is on target and timely. The alternative route that she mentions was cursorily dismissed some years ago without legally required study; now, new information warrants its proper study.

The Colorado Department of Transportation notes the higher cost of the alternative, but the law requires full analysis of all alternatives, including the more expensive ones. The alternative analyses would include, for the I-70 relocation, beneficial impacts for the communities and citizens in the area of the present location: air quality, noise, health, aesthetics, keeping businesses and homes from destruction, neighborhood cohesion, family contacts, restoration of the community integrity that was badly damaged 50 years ago when the nation’s urban highways were inflicted on areas of low income, low property purchase costs, and low political power.

Albert G. Melcher, Aurora

The writer is former commissioner of the Colorado Division of Highways.

This letter was published in the Dec. 29 edition.

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Thank you for the well-written article on the Interstate 70 remake. You presented the planning being done by the city and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) along with points raised by critics. Thinking of the unprecedented manner that September floods impacted roadways, flooding of the proposed tunnel seems a great risk and we ask Denver and CDOT to take another look at the alternative route. A transportation committee of the League of Women Voters was told that estimated costs per lane-mile of this alternative were much in excess of costs incurred or projected for comparable interstate projects. Explaining the apparent discrepancies and, better yet, including both routes in the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement would reassure the public that all promising options are fairly considered. Continued involvement of all stakeholders is crucial to arrive at a decision which best serves current and future residents of the affected areas in Denver.

Bobbie Heisterkamp, Denver

The writer is president of the League of Women Voters of Colorado.

This letter was published in the Dec. 24 edition.

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A passenger train passes the wreckage of a train in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on July 27. The Spanish train derailed at high speed killing 78 and injuring dozens more last Wednesday. (Lalo R. Villar, The Associated Press)

The high-speed rail accident in Spain should not deter transportation officials in Colorado from considering the concept in planning for a multi-modal solution for Interstate 70 traffic woes. It should, however, be a cause to rethink the old bus vs. rail argument.

Intra-state public bus (Colorado doesn’t have any) might be well worth technical evaluation for I-70. A public-private rail system should also be in the mix. Mountain resort towns would obviously lean toward high-speed rail, especially from Denver International Airport.

As slow as the dialog is going for I-70, it might behoove us to consider all options before funding is sought.

Kevin Sampson, Denver

This letter was published in the July 30 edition.

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Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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